Welcome!

We have created this section to share the latest IT news, software worth trying and things that maybe of interest to our visitors. If you have any questions or suggestions let us know.

Have you tries Firefox as yet? Here is a link give it a try (we think it is worth it)

What is Malware?

When someone tries to explain the definition of this type of infection it is like trying to explain the complexities of the human mind. It is my no means a "simply" explanation, one must try to define the difference between a virus and this type of infection. Here is an excerpt from spamlaws.com:

"viruses, worms, Trojans and spyware among others. It has the ability to hijack your web browser, redirect your search engine attempts, bombard your screen with pop-up advertisements and even monitor your activity. Because malware is often poorly scripted, it may cause your computer to become terribly slow and unstable. If it is not removed immediately, this type of program can eventually cause your system to become inoperable.

Most malware programs will reinstall themselves even after you think they have been removed. They typically hide deep within the Windows registry, making them difficult to manually remove. When this occurs, your computer may become so unstable that installing a malware removal tool may be impossible.

Methods of Infection

Malware will find its way to your system in various ways. It often comes bundled with freeware applications such as iMesh, Kazaa and other file sharing programs. These programs mainly consist of adware, which is known to display pop-ups in hopes of generating revenue for the software's author. Other forms of malware are installed from sites purporting as software providers. Most of them will attempt to convince you to download a removal tool, claiming that your system is infected. Viruses and worms are mainly contracted via email, automatically launching themselves the moment you open an attachment. Some forms of malware can be installed from simply visiting an infected website.

Just being a user of Microsoft products makes you a prime target for malware. Outlook, Outlook Express, the Internet Explorer browser and Windows itself are known for having numerous security vulnerabilities, enabling malicious coders to penetrate a victim's system and infect it with viruses, worms or spyware. Unfortunately, catching an infection is much easier than eradicating it, as some variations have the ability to propagate, spread the infection to other computers and claim complete control of your system."  (for the full article)

Here are our suggestions to minimize this major problem:

1. Stay away from web sites you do not understand or know (Free download sites)
2. Not all things that are free are free - free music, movies,  moments of pleasure may cost you in the end.
3. Protect your systems - avoid emails from people you do not know, first miss-trust
4. Look at where you are going on the web - when you go to banking sites most people don't look for the pad lock at the bottom (right hand) of their browse to ensure they are in a secured site (they just assume they are there).
5. Pay attention to details - if it does not look right, it is usually not right
6. Take your system in to a qualified technician to have your system look at and serviced. that is one of the things a good technician will look for.

More to come later